Media Officer of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Tosin Omojola, is cocksure the club will be ready to compete well in the 2021/22 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Speaking against the backdrop of reactions that trailed the Oluyole Warriors’ recent defeats in the finals of two different preseason tournaments, Omojola, an award-winning league writer, played down the losses, saying they were eye openers for the team.
Omojola, though expressed unhappiness over the inability of the team to win both the Dapo Abiodun Cup and Taiwo Ogunjobi Gold Cup preseason tourneys, despite making it into the finals of the two competitions, stressed that the most important aspect was the lessons the team learned through the tourneys.
“While I understand the concern and worries of the fans, I just want to assure them that we will be ready for action when the NPFL season starts.
“They should not judge us by the outcome of the preseason tournaments. These competitions are meant to prepare us for the task ahead. I believe our coaches have seen the lapses and I can tell you, we are working seriously to put things in shape before the commencement of the season”, stated the 2007 Nigeria Best League Writer Award winner.
“We have won many pre season trophies in the past, losing out this time should not give our supporters sleepless night but for us to know that we have to work hard and that is exactly what we have been doing since we returned to Ibadan.
“The technical crew has been digging deep to correct all the lapses noticed during the pre season tourneys, the Rasheed Balogun led management is also working hard to make sure everything works well, just as the players are also responding well to training”, stated the 3SC image maker.
He also cleared the air on speculations that the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has turned his back on the team after gaining promotion to the elite league.
“How can a governor, who gave his all to ensure the club reclaimed its premiership status, turn his back on the same team after his efforts yielded the desired results. Isnt that laughable?” asked Omojola, who added that nothing has changed as far as governor Makinde’s led administration’s commitment to Shooting Stars is concerned.
He assured the teeming fans and supporters of the club, that the team’s squad for the 2021/22 season will be rolled out after the coaches must have finished doing their job.
“Sure, we will do that as soon as the team is ready. The list of the players dropped, the ones retained and those recruited, will be officially released. Like every other club in the NPFL, , we are still working on the team”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Ibadan soccer lords have daily been intensifying preparations ahead of the new season as the Edith Agoye led technical crew have been sweating to bring out the best in both the old and new players, in the bid to put in place a formidable squad.
As part of their build up to the season, the Oluyole Warriors, will open their campaign in the 2021 IFA league on Wednesday, with a clash against Young Stars FC at the mainbowl of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium. Kick off time is 4pm.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
